Indicators and Stock Returns Market Indicator for the Week Ahead

In the week ahead it is interesting to take a look at how individual stocks have performed, depending on certain characteristics. A look at several indicators helps to clarify the situation – market capitalization returns, prior month's returns and buy-to-open (BTO) option volume data.

Armed with better-than-expected corporate profits, Wall Street’s bulls will do battle with potentially bearish economic and European news in the week ahead as investors await Friday’s April jobs report. The report will offer a clearer picture of the economic recovery's strength -- and its capacity to withstand some big stresses that lay ahead. Pfizer, AIG, GM and Cummins will also report earnings.